I am a sucker for anything that seems a bargain. I am always drawn to the bargain shelves and the end of season items. This year it's seeds as they are self collected so ultimate bargain! Also cuttings, I keep eyeing up other people's plants to see what I can half inch (pinch) to make cutting material. Just need the summer growth to start then will patrol my dads garden.

I took most of the heads from his dahlia bishop of ???? Began with an L. He then had v bad weather and lost the heads he had left. I felt so bad I had to give it back , but I bargained some seedlings when he has germinated them. A worthy prize for saving at least some if his seed!!

V - may leave the one closer to the house and move the one on the edge of the drive. Just need to think of some other cheapish evergreen shrubs to replace. I'm a compact girl don't like messy stuff.

I'm absolutely in love with a hellebore I bought from b&q about 2 weeks ago. Neat, smart, striking and will provide interest all yeAr. It's in the back boarders in a shaded more damp position.

Holy H - I have a 4 ft x 6ft I think plastic greenhouse but have not had chance to get it up. Hence the conservatory doing the hard work!

My soil conditioner is going to improve the back when I can scrape out clay from round my perennials, dig wider boarders then replace with soil conditioner and chicken pellets I think. Feel free to tell me I'm wrong.

Thanks for your reply. I potted up last night. Most things had roots reaching to the bottom of original pots. Even the verbena rigida have strong squat rroots, however leaf growth non! And original leaves are half brown!! Wondering if all is lost.

Have you ever taken cuttings from cineraria silver moondust? Mine overwintered and I'm wondering if I should take cuttings? Have you tried??

And my haphazard spelling and words were a result of blind typing under the desk at work trying not to be caught! Sorry and glad you understood, even if I did cause amusement.

V - thanks for telling me. I have always looked at skimmias and wanted one. I planted both at the front of the house, both are on the open boarders lining the drive. Wondering if that's not the right place!! The plants were ??3 each and stand about a foot tall excluding the pot. The hebes are called blue star and red edge. Both meant to be dwarf types! All 4 plants are light sandy type soil where I dug out 2 ft deep of clay and replaced with sandy top soil. Have I got them in the wrong place. The front garden faces east and because its more open it catches the wind a tad more than the back. My OH said the front garden is 75deg east!!!!!

I have said before I know nothing of gardening other than the tiny bits I know!!!!!!!!